from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean

5500 km 12 EU

member states

63 regions

An interregional initiative Aims at increasing cooperation between its member

countries and regions More visibility and understanding on eastern external

border issues

The network: 10 countries Over 30 regions Regions have similar challenges Acting as ”bridges” of Europe with its neighbours Offering new possibilities for border regions and countries Added value to EU and its regional policy

1. Concentration

2. Connecting territories

3. Cooperation

1. more integrated approach between the rural development and regional development should be developed

2. challenges with sparse population, demographic change and social exclusion

3. migration issues1. External migration flow2. Migration from external border regions

towards core regions of the EU

1. Transport – developing links1. The development of intermodal

transport connections2. North-South road and rail corridors3. Development of access to maritime

zones4. East-West road and rail corridors5. Cross-border transport connections

to non-EU-countries6. Regional airport developments

2. Energy – ensuring energy supply1. Development of new energy

networks and the interconnection of the existing ones

2. Development of renewable energy infrastructure and energy efficiency

3. Capacity building activities, knowledge transfer and awareness raising activities should be supported

3. Access to services1. The accessibility of hospitals and universities

should be improved – especially focusing on cross border health services, scholarship programmes, administrative issues

2. Exploring potentials of new innovations such as e-learning, telemedicine

4. ICT access1. Central-periphery ICT divide2. Broadband connections in rural remote areas

1. Focus on the further support of cross-border activities (especially in external border regions)

2. Support for transnational cooperation programmes

3. Support for joint eastern external border region activities (as part of interregional cooperation programmes)

4. Better coordination of funds (IPA, ENPI, ERDF, ESF)

1. Macroregions – opportunities for additional financing post 2013

1. Baltic Sea Strategy 2. Danube Strategy – focusing on the external

dimension of the strategy2. External cooperation frameworks – more

intense coordination of funds1. Black Sea Cooperation Programme2. Eastern Partnership – supporting the cross-

border activities towards the EaP countries, providing opportunities for bottom-up and network activities

3. Mediterranean Union

SME development in Eastern External Border RegionsBest Practice BrochureStudy visitsStaff exchange Implementation study

Project co-financed by the European Regional Development

Fund within the INTERREG IVC programme

SME development in Eastern External Border RegionsEvents

Annual Conference 2009 Joenssu Declaration

Open Days 2009 conglomerate and seminar6 October 2009 14:30-16:15 06C08: SME

development practices at the Eastern border of the EU

Project co-financed by the European Regional Development

Fund within the INTERREG IVC programme